During the signing ceremony, Al Baker said the collaboration will improve the integration between the aviation and academic sectors. He emphasized the airline’s commitment to developing the skills of employees working in the travel sector, enabling them to keep pace with Qatar’s great achievements in this vital industry.

“Qatar Airways always strives to exchange expertise with top research and training institutes,” added Al Baker.

Dr. Baybars said Carnegie Mellon University has a work strategy in place that complies with Qatar National Vision 2030, focusing mainly on human development in the State of Qatar and empowering the people to build a prosperous society.

The MoU aims to improve and reinforce knowledge for the university’s students as well as airline employees, in the fields of education, scientific research, executive training, social development as well as business management, IT and public policies. To achieve these goals, both parties will organize joint conferences and workshops.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Qatar Airways Vice President Corporate Communications Salam Al Shawa and Carnegie Mellon Assistant Dean of Government Initiatives and Corporate Affairs Fadhel Annan.

For over a century, Carnegie Mellon University has been a producer of revolutionary innovation. It has always been ranked among the world’s best and most prestigious universities, offering a range of academic programs for over 12,000 students, 90,000 alumni and 50,000 faculty through its branches around the world.

It joined Education City in 2004, at the invitation of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, to become a leading centre for scholarship and scientific research. Students from more than 40 difference countries receive a world-class education as part of the Education City campus in Doha.

Notes to Editors:Qatar Airways currently has orders worth over US$50 billion for more than 250 aircraft, including Boeing 787s, 777s, Airbus A350s, A380s and A320 Family of aircraft. At the recent Skytrax World Airline awards at the 2013 Paris Air Show, the airline was awarded Best Business Class in the World, Best Airline Staff Service in the Middle East, and Best Business Class Lounge in the World .In October 2012, Qatar Airways became the first of the major Gulf carriers to officially announce plans to join a global alliance having been invited into the oneworld group. For more information, visit www.qatarairways.com